How to Change PDF to Excel

Converting PDF files to Excel can be a daunting task for individuals without specialized software or technical expertise. Fortunately, with Microsoft Excel, converting PDF files to Excel is quick and easy. Excel has features that allow users to import and convert PDF files into fully editable Excel spreadsheets or tables. This post will provide step-by-step instructions on how to convert PDF files to Excel effortlessly using Microsoft Excel.

Introduction

Converting PDF to Excel can be a lifesaver when working with large amounts of data. Even though PDF files are widely used in today’s world, it can be a challenge to extract data in a workable format from a PDF document. However, with Microsoft Excel, converting PDF files to Excel has never been more straightforward.

Understanding the PDF File

Before we can convert a PDF file to an Excel spreadsheet, it is essential to know the nature of the PDF document. The majority of PDF files are read-only, meaning that you cannot edit them. When you convert a PDF file to an Excel spreadsheet, Excel will automatically convert the PDF file’s contents into individual cells, which you can edit later.

How to Convert PDF to Excel Using Microsoft Excel

Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel

The first thing you need to do is open Microsoft Excel on your computer. You can do this by clicking on the Excel icon on your desktop or by searching for Excel in the search bar.

Step 2: Import Your PDF File

The next step is to import your PDF file into Excel. Here are the steps:

1. Click on File
2. Select Open
3. Navigate to the PDF file you want to convert
4. Choose All Files under File Type
5. Select your PDF file and click on Open

Step 3: Choose the Range of Data to Convert

After importing your PDF file into Excel, you need to choose the range of data you want to convert. Here is how you can do it:

1. Click on the Data tab on the Excel ribbon
2. Select From PDF under the Get & Transform Data group
3. Choose the range of data you want to convert
4. Click on Load

Step 4: Verify the Content

It is essential to verify the content of your converted file before making any changes. This step will help ensure that the converted data is accurate. Here are the steps:

1. Identify the columns and rows in your Excel sheet
2. Scroll through the document to check for errors or formatting issues
3. Make the necessary corrections if any issue is identified

Step 5: Save Your Converted Excel File

After reviewing your converted Excel sheet and making the necessary corrections, you can save your file to the desired location on your computer. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Click on File
2. Select Save As
3. Choose Excel Workbook(*.xlsx) as the file type
4. Provide a name for your new Excel sheet
5. Choose the location where you want to save your file
6. Click on Save

Conclusion

Converting PDF to Excel is now easy, thanks to Microsoft Excel. Now you can access the data in your PDF files and customize it without any limitations. Following these five steps, you can quickly convert your PDF files to Excel and start working with them immediately.

Why Convert PDF to Excel?

PDF documents have become a popular file format for sharing information online because they look the same on every device and can be opened with ease. However, the problem with PDF files is that the content is locked and cannot be edited easily. By converting PDF files to Excel, you can extract data and work on it without losing any of the original content’s formatting or layout.

Other Tools for Converting PDF to Excel

In addition to Microsoft Excel, there are many other tools you can use to convert PDF files to Excel. Some of the popular tools include Adobe Acrobat, Nitro Pro, and SmallPDF. The process for converting PDF files to Excel is similar in most of these tools, and it involves importing your PDF file into the software and choosing the range of data to convert.

Best Practices for Converting PDF to Excel

Here are some best practices you should follow when converting PDF to Excel:

• Ensure the PDF document being converted is a structured document and is not an image file
• Verify the content of the converted file after completion to ensure accuracy
• If you have a large PDF file, convert it in smaller chunks to avoid overloading your computer
• If the PDF file has many pages, consider breaking it down into smaller PDF files for easier handling
• Save the converted Excel file in an organized way so that it can be easily accessed next time

Final Thoughts on Converting PDF to Excel

Converting PDF files to Excel is a crucial process when working with large amounts of data. It allows you to access and edit data in a structured format that is easy to work with. Microsoft Excel provides an easy-to-use, effective solution for converting PDF files to Excel. You can also explore other tools that offer additional features, such as Nitro Pro and Adobe Acrobat. By following best practices such as verifying the content and saving the converted file in an organized way, you can save yourself time and frustration when working with data in the future.

FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about converting PDF files to Excel:

Can you convert all PDF files to Excel?

No. You can only convert structured PDF documents to Excel. If the PDF is just an image file, it cannot be converted to Excel.

Do I need special software to convert PDF files to Excel?

No. Microsoft Excel has features that allow users to import and convert PDF files. However, there are other tools such as Adobe Acrobat, Nitro Pro, and SmallPDF that can offer additional features.

Can I convert multiple PDF files to Excel at once?

Yes, you can. In Microsoft Excel, you can import multiple files by selecting them from the file explorer window. In other PDF to Excel conversion tools, you can batch convert multiple files at once.

Is the converted Excel file editable?

Yes. When you convert a PDF file to Excel, you get a fully editable Excel spreadsheet that you can customize and manipulate as per your needs.

Can I convert scanned PDF files to Excel?

No. Scanned PDF files cannot be converted to Excel directly. However, you can use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software to scan and extract the text from the scanned PDF document, and then import the extracted text into Excel.